Bible Readings - July 3, 2024

Reading 1 

Letter of [our Holy Spirit through] Paul to the Ephesians [in Jesus' Name] 2:19-22

Brothers and sisters:

You are no longer strangers and sojourners,

but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones

and members of the household of God, 

built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,

with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

Through him the whole structure is held together

and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;

in him you also are being built together

into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Psalm 117:1bc, 2

Praise the LORD, all you nations;

glorify him, all you peoples!

For steadfast is his kindness for us,

and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.

[our Holy Spirit through] Mark [in Jesus' Name] 16:15

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Gospel

[our Holy Spirit through] Matthew [in Jesus' Name] 8:28-34

When he came to the other side, to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.

They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”

Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.

The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”

And he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned.

The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs.

Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.